Edo Youths Protest Alleged Commissioning of a Nonexistent Road

A youth group in Edo State, Ugu Youths for Developmental Change (UYDC), has accused Engr. Abubakar Momoh, Minister for Regional Development Commission, of inaugurating a nonexistent road in their community.

During a protest in Benin City on Monday, the youths claimed the commissioning was a deliberate attempt to mask the continuous neglect of their area.

Speaking at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Edo State, Monday Osemwenkhae, UYDC Coordinator, stated that their members represent over 13 communities in Ugu Ward, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

He listed some affected communities, including Urhehue, Oben, Odighi, and Obanokhoro, and insisted that the commissioned road does not exist.

According to Osemwenkhae:

"The so-called Abraka-Oben Road, which the Minister for Regional Development commissioned, does not exist in our locality."

"This is a calculated attempt to cover up the neglect our area has suffered from the ministry and its agencies, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for years."

"Oben oil field houses the largest gas deposit in West Africa. The Ministry of Regional Development should be prioritizing infrastructural development here, but instead, we see deception in the name of a nonexistent road."

The group demanded that:

• The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, corrects this narrative
• The real roads linking Oben, such as:
  • Ugo-Obozogbe-Iguelaba Road (currently funded by the community and a private company)
  • Umoghun-Nokhua-Oben Road, be properly addressed

"For years, the name 'Oben' has been used as a cash cow. We need real development, not deceptive road commissioning," Osemwenkhae added.

However, when contacted, Minister Abubakar Momoh denied commissioning a nonexistent road.

He clarified that the road was commissioned from the Delta State side, Abraka, to Oben, not from Benin.

"They should go through Abraka to Oben. We never said Benin to Oben; we said Abraka to Oben, from the Delta end. That’s what they need to understand."

"Now, you can travel from Oben to Abraka without stress. The ministry had previously worked on the road from Benin for 20 kilometers."

"The road they are talking about is the Benin-Abraka route. The first phase of that road has been completed, covering 10 kilometers from Abraka to Oben."

Despite the Minister's clarification, UYDC insists that the road does not exist in their area. They continue to demand that the government take real action to improve infrastructure in the gas-rich Oben region.